THE RELATİONSHİP BETWEEN VİTAMİN D LEVELS AND PLASMA ATHEROGENİC INDEX (PAI): A CROSS-SECTİONAL STUDY

Background/aim: This study aimed to evaluate plasma atherogenic index (PAI) values in patients with vitamin D deficiency and to investigate the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and PAI. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was approved by the Non-Interventional Scientific Research Ethics Committee of Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University (07.03.2025, No: 2025/4). A total of 352 consecutive patients with available lipid profile and 25(OH)D measurements in 2024-2025 were included. PAI was calculated as log₁₀(TG/HDL-C). Vitamin D deficiency was defined as <20 ng/mL. Statistical analyses included Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression (p < 0.05). Results: 76.1% of the patients were female, and the mean age was 46.8 ± 16.1 years. The mean 25(OH)D level was 17.4 ± 9.2 ng/mL, and 61% had vitamin D deficiency. PAI was significantly higher in the deficiency group (0.41 ± 0.26 vs 0.29 ± 0.21 in the sufficient group; p < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between 25(OH)D level and PAI (r = -0.29, p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, vitamin D deficiency remained an independent predictor of PAI (β = -0.24, p = 0.004) after adjustment for age, sex, and diabetes. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is independently associated with a higher plasma atherogenic index. Vitamin D screening and supplementation may contribute to cardiovascular risk management, particularly in patients with metabolic risk factors.